According to the commander, the deals were reached and sent ISIS forces out of the area around Raqqa, which the Kurds are in the process of invading, and toward Syrian government-held territory around Palmyra, which ISIS has been contesting in growing numbers.

He accused the deal of being a way for the US to use ISIS to attack Syrian government targets further south, and to slow the Syrian military’s advance toward the Iraq border, but that Russian warplanes had attacked several ISIS convoys heading in the direction of the Syrian forces, out of nominally “surrounded” areas.

The US has not indicated that they made any evacuation deals with ISIS over any villages, and while doing so would not necessarily be proof of “collusion,” it would not be in keeping with the stated US policy in the ISIS war, which is to exterminate all ISIS fighters and ensure that there are “no survivors” of the conflict.

Kurds cutting deals is no surprise. Its not like they have any stake in dying any more than they have to to clear IS from the area.

Bianca

Well, Trump gave generals free hands to destroy ISIS. But generals are taking short-
cuts, and through Kurds cutting deals with ISIS. So, Kurds look good, “liberating” those villages. This has been done ALL the time. Remember Manbij? A major deal with ISIS saw thousands of fighters leave Manbij with arms. Kurds then ethnically cleansed the town, and are keeping it — in spite of solemn promises by Biden to Turkey that Kurds and their forces would withdraw. Now, it is even worse. ISIS is executing all civilian leadership before withdrawing, as Arab population is threatening resistance to Kurdish occupation. Plenty of news from Syrian and Lebanon sources on this practice. It is as clear as it can be for a while now, that on the highest level there is a strategic understanding with ISIS. It is also clear that it is ISIS that has an upper hand — and the real question is, why??? Facts show that anytime Kurds or US reneign on a deal and ISIS gets hurt, they strike back at US assets — Kurds. Stellar example is the deal that opened ISIS encirclement so they can intensify pressure on Deir Azzor and Palmyra. They were so confident, that they removed heavy artillery from Raqqa region, and started to move forces to threaten government positions in those areas. It was with the clear intent to orevent Syria securing its border with Iraq.
But Iraq has issues a threat — that it will work with friendly Syrian government to secure their common border. And, Russia bombed the artillery and militants that were shifting positions. So, two problems for ISIS. One, US failed to discipline Iraq. Second, US failed to punish Russia for interfering into air space that only “.the coalition” is supposed to fly over — and got bombed. The punishment? The base and a sugar factory Kurds recently “liberated” from ISIS, in a ounishment move –ISIS just stormed back and took the area. It is astonishing that our military seemsvto be rented to the Demented Kingdom! Because there is no other explanation — a supposedly terrorist group having such capability, and then brazenly jerking our chain — the moment anything goes wrong or not to plan. Anybody noticing a new vigour with which bombing attacks have returned to Baghdad? Clearly, ISIS is not happy with Iraq’s open support for Assad.

ISIS has no weapons factory, yet has every type of artillery and ammunition they want.

ISIS has no currency, yet have abundant supply of money to pay for all their war and civilian expenses.

ISIS has no satellites, yet they have access to satelite telecom, and world-wide internet.

ISIS dies not have military academies, yet it has top military planners and commanders.

ISIS has no agriculture or food processing in their areas — yet always supplied with food

ISIS does not run oil wells and refineries, as it does not have the engineers, spare parts and distribution network — yet, it always has gas.

Only KSA has the resources, motive, means and oppotrunities to run such operation. And this could not happen without our deep state hydra support. So, our military is indeed rented to KSA — as Vitginia State Senator Rich Black has talked about in one of Trump rallies in Virginia.

Keep in mind that Qatar brouhaha is all about Turkey. Turkey has slipped out of neocon orbit — as all Soros-Gulen resources in Turkey are being flushed out. It is now in Eurasian orbit in all but name, formally part of Astana process that created Turkey-Iran-Russia plan for Syria. For a long time, Qatar was in sinc with Turkey — mostly because Qatar was always under KSA threat. KSA once ruled Qatar, and it controls all land connections to the peninsula. Qatar has large reserves of gas, and actually shares a gas field with Iran. Qatar wants business, and is seeking export route via pipeline to Europe. Turkey was logjical partner. But Turkey realized that KSA and US were planning to box them in Anatolia with no access to Middle East — and had to change its policy drastically. If US did not prop ip Kurds in Syria, and play double game with KSA — Turkey would have still been in an anti-Assad camp, just wanting an end to crisis in Syria by whatever means. But the unexpected support for ISIS, terrorist attacks in Turkey, and the ibvious plan to set up Kurdish state along the entire Syrian-Turkey border, made Turkey shift into Russia-China orbit, and militarily cut off Afrin Kurds from Raqqa and Kobani Kurds. This is accomplished — and now, the only trouble in the connectivity in the ME represents Kurdish-Iraq border in Syria. But if Syria and Iraq secure their common border outside Kurdish control, then Syria becomes important state for land infrastructure, not enmesshed into either Kurdish Iraqi or Kurdish Syrian territorial aspirations. Qatar has to go where Turkey goes — as it is dependent on it as a counter balance to KSA. As Turkey and Iran are now partners — Qatar’s already good relationship with Iran — is the key to Saudi fury.

The question only remains if KSA will risk military actions with Turkish forces there. But with massive US presence, this may not be so difficult. The question is — will US risk more damage to relationship with Turkey. Given the extreme appetite for risk in our Israel First circles, it would not shock me. Indication of this behaviour is the elevation of absurd line — Shia Iran is the world’s top terrorist state! As anybody hwo is minimally politically literate knows — this is hubris of unbelievable proportions. It is saying — we do not care about the truth or reality, we do not care what you American morans think — we will tell you what to believe, and you will shut up and wave flag, as ordered. There is no concern for our troops that will be for generations nation building small toll-booth type states in order to block economic development by blocking infrastructure connectivity among strong states, like Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and eventually Egypt, connecting Eurasia to Africa. We, USA should be encouraging and participating — building links to the world, sharing our technology and know how to be part of that development, being welcomed and liked around the globe. Instead, we are digging our heels into a thoroughly disruptive strategy, which has one objective — weaken and destroy statehood of any strong state, place the remnants of such states under a protectorate-style bantustans, and secure Israel’s dominance over this vast and strategically important territory. In that task, subcontract the ideologically violent Islamic cult building to Saudi Arabia — whose manyfold vulnerabilities can only be offset by full dedication to the erradication of the only non-confotming segment of population –Shia Mislems. It dies not bother the strategists of such plan the fact that Shia are a large part of Middle East, and that without genicide, such ling term plan is not achievable.

As Russia is — on behalf of many others standing in the way, it is now our over the top menace — a cartoonish version of reality, the creators hope we will accept. Sooner or later, it will be drummed up into our brains. Russia has published its estimate that these cold warriors are planning a surprise nuclear attack on Russia. Such a statement should have raised red flags — as we do not wish to be the inadvertent target of a tense environment. Yet, our Israel First elite did not bother to even notice the implications!!

Trump must know by now that our generals st the top are perfumed princes, politicians in uniform. And that their fumbling in Syria is leading to ridiculous situations. And creating a nation building project that we cannot back out from. Time to fire many of them, and have a real strategy how to have results, not further entanglement with more money pits. Is there anything to stop the greed and lack of patriotism in Washington.